Three of my ex students, Zoran Blazevic, Vladan Papic and Boris Sumilin, now working at the Faculty and in industry, joined me in attending the EuroSim'98 Conference in Helsinki, Finland. This is a short report about our journey from Croatia to Finland.

Tuesday, the first day

Early in the morning, about 6:35, I had collected my colleagues and we started our car journey from Split to the 370 km distant Zagreb Airport. We were supposed to take the British Airways flight from Zagreb to Helsinki via London Gatwitck Airport.

We decided not to fly from Split to Zagreb because our special discount Zagreb - Helsinki - Zagreb ticket could not be checked at Split Airport. We should have collected our luggage in Zagreb, and then recheck for Helsinki. Car journey provided for about 80% savings to our Faculty.

However, about 150 km away from Split, our (my) car had stopped in a cloud of the white steam. Pouring water every few kilometers (we found more than a dozen plastic bottles in a garbage can by the road), we made 70 km more.

Finally, the car was left at the Borje motel's parking lot. The four travellers continued their Journey to the airport, now more than 150 km away, by hitch-hiking. After riding three different cars and local busses, taxies and a friend's car, we succeeded in arriving at time to check in for Helsinki.

We reached Helsinki about midnight local time. The taxi driver found our hotel after consulting his map. The four person apartment in Privatel Hotel, Lepavara, Espoo, was ready. About 50 square meters, bathroom with private sauna, and kitchen equipped with microwave and conventional oven. Recommended.

Wednesday, the second day

We registered to the conference in the morning. Actually, this was the second day of the conference, because we were told that all the seats on Monday flight had been occupied. Our colleague from Zagreb, who had travelled on Monday, told us that both airplanes, Zagreb - London and London - Helsinki, were half empty. British Airways.

The conference was well organized, with a lot of interestig presentations. Our sessions were held in the afternoon. Here is a list of our papers:

Julije Ozegovic, Mario Mornar: "ATM VIRTUAL CHANNELS SIMULATION FOR A PACKET NETWORK SIMULATOR"

Igor Zanchi, Zoran Blazevic, Ivan Marinovic: "A COMPARISON OF THE MODELS FOR THE PATH LOSS PREDICTION IN SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT"

Igor Zanchi, Ivan Marinovic, Zoran Blazevic: "ASSESMENT OF METHOD SELECTION FOR CALCULATION OF MULTIPLE DIFFRACTION LOSSES BY APPLICATION OF KNIFE EDHE MODEL"

Boris Sumilin, Vlasta Zanchi: MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF LINEAR QUADRATIC REGULATORS FOR MIMO AIR - CONDITIONING SYSTEMS USING SIMULINK SOFTWARE PACKAGE"

Mojmil Cecic, Vladan Papic, Vlasta Zanchi: "SIMULINK SIMULATION OF HODGKIN-HUXLEY EQUATION"

dr. Richard N. Zobel, networking session chairman, just before my presentation

Conference sessions ended at about 5 pm. We took a bus to Helsinki center to have a "nice" 2-hour walk in the streets. However, temperature was about 0 Celsius, and a strong cold wind was blowing. We saved ourselves from freezing at the local supermarket. Finally, the Conference Gala Dinner began at 7 pm.

Rosa Carro, Conference colleague, at the Gala Conference Dinner

The Conference Dinner was excellent, wonderful atmosphere, delicious dishes. Champaign, brandy, white wine, red wine, dessert wine and cognac were served. After dinner, we felt no cold on the Helsinki streets again.

Three more days in Helsinki

We had to spend three more days in Helsinki. Actually, our special discount airplane ticket included the "weekend option", meaning that we should spend the saturday / sunday night in Helsinki. We used these days for walking, shopping and having fun in pubs at night. Helsinki center

Sunday, the first of the last three days

On Sunday mornning we arrived at the Helsinki Airport on time. After duty free shopping, we reached the gate to find out that our boarding time was postponed for about 45 minutes. Nothing to worry about, only our time gap at London Gatwick Airport became a little bit narrow. Finally we boarded the plane, but.....

After some time a voice from the speaker announced: Dear passengers, unfortunately I have some bad news for you! Our captain is ill. He had visited two doctors, and both advised him not to fly. Since at the moment he is the only British Airways captain in Helsinki capable to drive this plane, I am sorry to say that this service should be cancelled! Now leave the airplane, rows one to twelve first!

At the transfer desk in the international part of the Airport we were rerouted to Stockholm - Frankfurt - Zagreb. In Zagreb we arrived in the evening and, should I say, our luggage was missing. After all the necessary paperwork, my colleagues continued to Split by bus. I myself had to stay in Zagreb to collect my car and possibly our lost luggage.

Waiting for conection flight at Arendal Airport, Stockholm, Sweden

Last two of the last three days

In Zagreb I collected my car from the mechanic on Monday. Except for paying about 200 USD transportation fee, I was informed that my car was in a perfect condition, and nothing was wrong with it. Nothing was repaired!

I managed to arrange a few meetings in Zagreb and succeeded in collecting our luggage on Tuesday. It had arrived from Berlin! Back to the car and back home to Split.

Tuesday was the last of the last three days.